SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories from the Lotus Sutra

Dogen-Zenji so cherished the Lotus Sutra that he actually carved a selection of it into his door. This, the core text of not only Zen but the whole of Mahayana Buddhism, has never lost its appeal among practitioners of the Way. Join us for our SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories From the Lotus Sutra led by Sensei Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Genzan Quennell

Our Abbot, Roshi Joan, has written that "Generosity is a way we cultivate joy, end the sense of separateness between self and other, and actualize the third of the Three Pure Precepts, doing good for others. This is the heart of what it means to become fully human."

Joshin Brian Byrnes, President of Upaya Zen Center and The Upaya Community

Dharma Talk, Daily Practice

NEW YEAR

Wednesday, December 31, join us at 10:00 p.m. for our New Year's meditation, with 108 bells at midnight, a short talk by Roshi Joan, and refreshments in the River House.

Please note: There will be no 5:30 p.m. sit or Dharma talk that evening.

ROSHI JOAN: News, Teachings, Travels

Roshi Joan is in retreat at Upaya til early January. She is writing, sitting, and taking an inbreath, with good friends and residents as her companions. She leaves for Costa Rica to teach on Jan 3 and returns Jan 9.

Please consider joining Roshi for one of next year's programs; early registration is advised.

We are accepting applications for Upaya's resident program. Please consider joining Roshi, Visiting Teachers, and Upaya for three months or more of dedicated practice and learning. By application, click here.

The First Paramita-Dana: A Dharma Talk by Roshi Joan Halifax (Part Four)

The practice of Dana Paramita also transforms obstacles directly. Practice Bodhicitta diligently. When we cultivate the mind that desires for all to beings be awake and free from suffering, we transform our fear and greed. Offering gratitude is one way to practice Dana Paramita. When we express our gratitude, when we thank the Earth, thank the Waters, thank the Air and the Fire for sustaining us, this also transforms our suffering. A heart and mind of thanksgiving, of gratitude, is fundamentally generous.

A Reflection on Cheri Maples’ teachings during Upaya’s Chaplaincy Training Program by Áine McCarthy

As in Roshi Joan Halifax’s research that compassion is made of “non-compassion elements,” Cheri talked about how compassion contains streams of patience, receptivity, courage, honesty, and forgiveness. She talked about how equanimity can balance compassion by allowing us to find “some spaciousness around the content of what is happening,” and to study ourselves in the midst of the “tenderheartedness” of compassion.

Upaya offers over 1000 free podcasts of great teachers of Buddhism and science. These talks, given by extraordinary Buddhist teachers such as Roshi Joan Halifax, Sharon Salzberg, Bernie Glassman, and many more, are offered to support your practice even if you live far away from Upaya.

Santa Fe Sangha Events

WEDNESDAY, December 31, New Year's Eve: No dharma talk on this night. Join us in sitting from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. and ring in the new year with 108 bells.

Local Sangha Dharma Discussion Group: Our new year begins with the fourth Sunday Dharma Discussion Group, Sunday Jan 25. We begin a new discussion about the Four Noble Truths, which we will explore over five months.

Westbury, Wiltshire, U.K. We meet fortnightly on Sundays between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. At the end of May we begin a programme of Mindfulness Meditation Courses (on a donation basis) for the community. at The East Wing, 35 Church Street, Westbury, Wiltshire. For more info, e-mail Jan Mojsa, janmojsa@googlemail.com. www.eastwingpractice.co.uk